Cylinder lock



Patented Feb. 18, 1941 UNITED sv'rli'rss CYLINDER LOCK samuel F. s011511, Detroit, Mich., assignor to The Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company, Stamford, Conn., a corporation of'Connecticut 1 Application July 1, 1937, serial No. 151,418

5 Claims.

This invention relates to adjustabletumbler locks, and more especially to adjustable cylinder locks of the pin tumbler type.

In the application of George W. Wilder, Serial No. 56,461, filed December 28, 1935, there is disclosed a pin tumbler lock in which each of the pin tumblers positioned by the key is formed of two parts. The tWo parts of each tumbler are arranged so as to readily adjustable to vary the length of the tumbler when endwise pressure is applied thereto. The key plug in the Wilder cylinder has the usual form of keyway into which a key is inserted. The adjustable tumblers, which are all of the same size initially, are placed into each of the tumbler chambers, and when contacted by the key, the ends of the` tumblers will extend out of the key plug different distances, depending upon the particular bittings of the key.

With the tumblers so positioned by the key, a special tool is utilized lto apply endwise `pressure to the tumblers in a direction eective to compress the tumblers, so as to place the outer ends of the tumblers in alignment with the plug periphery, while the inner ends of Ithe tumblers` are '1n contact with the key. This is basically the contribution inV the Wilder application, `although there are of course additional features of importance which are set forth by Wilder.

My invention contemplates the adjustment of tumblers like those of Wilder, and in a manner somewhat similar tothat 0f Wilder. It Will be noted that after Wilder compresses the 4tumblers of his key plug, it is then necessary for himto insert the key plug into the cylinder lock-in which it is to operate. Insertion of a key plug into a cylinder requires special skill, a special tool, and requires time.

Since cylinder locks of this adjustable type are used most frequently in automobile assembly lines, where the Work must progress quite rapidly, it will be readily appreciated that the time consumedA in first adjusting the tumblers--to the key contour and the plug periphery, and Vthen inserting th-e key plug into the cylinder, is of 'f considerable importance. It would be eminently more satisfactory were the cylinder toA be completely assembled in the factory in which the lock parts are made, the cylinder as a whole to be acted upon in the assembly line to adjust the tumblers.

My invention contributes this desired result, since `I have conceived and reduced to practice a cylinder lock which may be assembled in the factory and equipped with tumblers such as disclosed by Wilder. This cylinder lock as a whole may be placed in a tool, and the tumblers adjusted by compression in a manner similar to that disclosed in the Wilder application. `In my invention, however, instead of applying endwise pressure to the tumblers per se While in a key 5 plug as in Wilder, I apply endwise pressure to the tumblers through the drivers, while assembled in a complete cylinder, .and maintain this pressure until the parting line between the tumblers and drivers is` in alignment with the plug y` periphery.

As a further feature of my invention, I utilize a type of spring which allows for easy compression of the tumblers through the drivers, retains the drivers in the cylinder, and permits also the use of a smaller cylinder than could possibly be used` with the usual form of spring.

Before referring to the drawings and particularly describing my invention, I should like to indicate that my invention is of relatively broad scope, and that I feel myself entitled to a monopoly suiiiciently broad to prevent the utilization of the principles of my invention, aswell as the specific form thereof herein described.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation and par- 25 tial section of a cylinder `embodying my invention, and showing a tumbler adjusting tool in position to operate on the tumblers.4 Fig. 2 is a section taken along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing a driver and tumbler in a nal adjusted position, '30 with the lower end of th-e tumbler in contact with a key, and with the tumbler adjusting tool being withdrawn from contact with the driver. Fig. 3 is a View taken along the same lines as Fig. 2, showing the key Withdrawn, and illustrating the '35 action of the spring. Fig. 4 is a view somewhat along the lines of Fig. 2 showing a slightly diierent form of spring and driver. Fig. 5 is a section taken through a cylinder along the same lines as Fig. 2, and illustrating a modiiication of my invention utilizing a still different form of spring and driver. Fig. 6 is a side elevation and partial section of the modiiication of Fig. 5. Fig, 7 Iis a section ftaken along the same lines as Fig. 2, illustrating still a further type of spring, rwhile Fig. 8 is a section similarly taken illustrating a further type of spring and driver. Fig. 9 is an elevation of Fig. 8 illustrating the construction of a part of the invention shown in Fig. 8.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the cylinder lock of my invention embodies a. cylinder portion I0 in which is adapted to rotate a key plug I l having a keyway l2 into which may enter a key I3. The plug I I is equipped with a series of tumblers having lower sleeve portions The cylinder III has a series of grooves I6, there being preferably one groove for each tumbler.

The cylinder I8 contains also a series of driverl bores I'I, in each of which is adapted to reciprocate a driver I8. Each of the grooves I6 houses a spring I9 which is adapted to press downwardly on a driver I8, urging it against the pin portion I5 of the particular tumbler in contact therewith.

In the modification of Figs. 1 and 2, the spring 'I9 has at oneend a coil 28 `which enters a specially formed ,chamber 2I in the cylinder Ill whereby to retain the spring I9 in its position of Fig. 2 relatively 'to thecylinder I 9. `The driver I8 of Figs. 1 and 2 is equipped with a bore 22 in which rests one end 23 of the'spring I9, whereby to maintain the driver Y22against the pin portion I5 of the tumbler thereunder. The spring I9 also retains the driver in the cylinder.

As is fully set forth in the Wilder application, each of the tumblers when initially placed into the key plug II, is of the same size. When endwise pressure is brought to bear against the pin portion I5 while the sleeve portion I4 is contacted by the key I3, the upper end of the pin portion I5 will be moved until it is aligned with the periphery of the plug I I while the lower end of the sleeve portion' I4 remains in contact with the key. I propose to accomplish this same adjustment by bringing endwi'seY pressure against the drivers I8 by means of a tool 24 having a series of compression pins 25. i y

'I'he surface 24a of the compression tool 24 is adapted to conform to the outer periphery of the cylinder I0, while the compression pin portions 25 -are of such length that, together with the drivers I8, they occupy the full lengthpf the driver bores II when the surface 24a of the compression tool is against the outer surface of the cylinder I8, Thus, when the tool 24 is brought down against the cylinder, the drivers I8 will moveto the position shown in Fig. 3 with the tumblers properly compressed. Fig. 3 illustrates the action of spring I9 when the driver I8 is in an upper dotted line-position. and also in a lower full line position. By using the form of spring I9 illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, it is possible to utilize a cylinder I8`of smaller size than would otherwise be possible, as will be readily appreciated. Also, 'the feature of retaining the spring through means ofV a coil portion 20 is important since this allows for easy and cheap'assembly.

In"Fig. 4, I vshow, the parts 0f Fig. 3, but with a slightly diii'erent form of spring I9a having a retaining portion V20a which is loffset as at 22 relatively to the main portion of the spring I9. In

Fig. 4, the key I 3 is shown against the lower end ofthe sleeve I4 of an adjustedtumbler maintaining the upper endk of the pin portion I5 of the tumbler in alignment with the periphery of the key plug II. The positioning of the tumbler is done, of course,-against the pressure of the spring springs I 9b are adapted to lie in grooves I6, as

irrthe modiiicationof Figs. 1 and 2, there being no retaining means for the springs whatsoever. Thesprings are inherently retained because of their coiled position about the cylinder, as is well illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.

.In Fig. 7, I illustrate a further modification of my invention inwhich the spring I9c has an end portion Z'I'fitting into a bore 23 in the driver I8.

The springl|9c is retained due to its coiled and torsional relation to the cylinder IU.

In Figs.'8 and 9, I show a further modification of my invention in which a series of coiled springs 29 are utilized, these springs being maintained about the pin 39 Supported in the cylinder I 8. One end 3| of each of the springs 29 passes downwardly through a pocket 32 and is properly retained relatively to the cylinder I l), as is shown in Fig. 8. The other end 33 passesthrough an opening 34 in the driver I8 somewhat in the manner ofthe spring in Figs. land 2.

I believe that the construction of my invention will now be quite clear to those skilled in the art. It will be well, however, to review the invention by indicating that the cylinder herein disclosed may be assembled at a lock factory and shipped as an entire assembled whole to an automobile plant. When it is desired to fit the cylinder to a particular bitting of a key, the key need only bejinserted into the key plug of the cylinder and the tool' 24 operated to adjust the tumblers. Thereafter,the cylinder which has already been assembled at the lock factory, and has just been adjusted at the automobile factory, need only be placed in its allotted position in the automobile passing through the assembly line. The simplicity and utilityof my invention will be readily appreciated.

Inow claim:

1, In acombination of the class described, a key plug, a cylinder in which said key plug rotates, tumblers in said plug adjustable in length by the application of pressure thereagainst, drivers in said cylinder cooperable with said tumblers, and through which pressure may be applied against said tumblers, said cylinder having openings therein through which said drivers are accessible for pressing said drivers downwardly against said tumblers whereby to adjust the lengths of said tumblers.

2. In a combinationof the class described, a key plug, a cylinder in which said key plug rotates, tumblers in said plug adjustable in length by the application of pressure thereagainst, drivers in said cylinder cooperable with said tumblers and through which pressure may be applied against said tumblers, torsion springs mounted on said cylinder in torsional and pressure relation to said drivers, said drivers being formed so that portions ofv said springs bear on said drivers below the upper end surfaces of said drivers, said cylinder having openings thereinthrough which said drivers are accessible for pressing said drivers downwardly` againstA said tumblers whereby to adjust the lengths of saidtumblers.

3. In a combination of the class described, a cylinder lock having a cylinder and a key plug, a series of aligned bores in said cylinder and key plug, a series of adjustable tumblers all of the same length in said aligned bores; a series of drivers in said aligned bores imposed on said tumblers, springs pressing said drivers downwardly, said series of bores being open to a tool adapted to apply pressure to said drivers and adjustable tumblers.

4. In a combination of the class described, a cylinder lock haw'ng a cylinder and a key plug, a series of aligned bores in said cylinder and key plug, a series of adjustable tumblers all of the same length in said aligned bores, a series of drivers in said aligned bores imposed on said tumblers, said series of bores being open to a tool adapted to apply pressure to said drivers and adjustable tumblers.

5. In a combination of the class described, a cylinder lock having a cylinder and a key plug, a series of aligned bores in said cylinder and key plug, a series of adjustable tumblers in said bores, a series of drivers in said aligned bores imposed on said tumblers, said series of bores being open to a tool adapted to apply pressure to said drivers and adjustable tumblers.

SAMUEL F. ROLPH. 

